To find out more about the Year of the Volunteer and the 2011 Community Service Day, click here.
NEW! Volunteer Opportunities in the Open Space. Come to an orientation meeting at Howe Homestead, 2950 Walnut Boulevard, to learn more. Orientations will be on Tuesday, June 21 at 2 or 7 p.m., or Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m. Contact Supervising Ranger Nancy Dollard for details.
For volunteer opportunities throughout the community and East Bay, check out the Volunteer Center of the East Bay!
The following are volunteer opportunities within the City of Walnut Creek.
Bedford Gallery
(Arts, Recreation & Community Services Department)
Contact: Melanie Chang, 925-295-1423
The Bedford Gallery volunteer force is currently more than 120 strong! Opportunities are as follows:
Guild Members: Bedford Gallery Guild members staff the gallery’s front desk, greet visitors, provide visitors with information and monitor activities in the gallery. Guild members also host gallery receptions and participate in fund-raising activities. Guild members work weekday afternoons and some evenings during receptions.
Docents: Docents lead tours of gallery exhibitions for groups of children and adults. Docents receive special training in art history and effective touring techniques. Docents provide students with the art education that many schools can no longer afford. Most tours are scheduled for weekday mornings.
Interns: Gallery interns receive hands-on experience in such areas as exhibition research and preparation, public relations, fund-raising and gallery administration. Interns use their skills with PCs and Macintosh computers, graphic design, writing and phone reception to help organize exhibitions, publicize events, and meet administrative needs. Interns are asked to make a full semester and/or a three-to-six month commitment. College student interns sometimes receive school credit.
Civic Arts Education
(Arts, Recreation & Community Services Department)
Contact: Kathy Nelson, 925-943-5899 ext. 4205 or Melissa Ridenour, 925-943-5899 ext. 2465
There are a number of opportunities for both teens and adults. Teens can assist in children’s classes and the preschool, as well as in the Arts, Adventures and Academics program. Adults can help with the Fine Arts Preschool, Diablo Regional Youth and Young Performers String Orchestras, Junior Theater, Young Repertory Summer Theater, End of Summer Theater Camp, School Services programs, Arts Sales and special events and performances. Volunteers are also welcome in the office to help with organizing and labeling photo materials, mailings and other tasks.
Open Space
(Public Services Department) Contact: Open Space Supervising Ranger Nancy Dollard at 925-943-5899, ext. 2135.
Open Space has a number of volunteer opportunities, including Heritage Volunteers, Trail Crew, Site Volunteer and Trail Patrol. To learn more,click here.
Click here for more on Walnut Creek's Open Space.
Police Department
Reserves
Contact: Lt. Mark Covington, 925-945-5886
There are currently 30 reserve officers who donated a combined 8,000 hours last year alone. Being a reserve requires training, an application and screening process, and a commitment of 16 hours a month minimum of patrol or other assignments as well as mandatory training meetings. Detailed information is on the Police website at www.walnutcreekpd.com/reserve
VIPS (Volunteers in Police Services)
Contact: John Haithcock, 943-5879
VIPS work a number of different areas of the Police Department and perform a wide variety of tasks. Some of the assignments include: Community Policing projects, scanning and processing police reports, reception duties, handicapped parking enforcement, and maintenance of police vehicles and equipment. They are truly an appreciated and integral of our busy Police Department. Interested people are encouraged to apply. There is a background check before being brought on board.
Lesher Center for the Arts
(Arts, Recreation & Community Services Department)
Security Team for Plays
Contact: Toni Kilcoyne, 925-295-1400 Work as the second or third person on security team for an event. Stage Crews for Center Rep Contact: Jeff Collister, 925-295-1400 Work backstage during productions on tasks such as moving scenery, helping actors with quick costume changes between scenes. Volunteers can also paint scenery at the scene shop before production begins. Stage crews must be willing to work the entire 5-week run of the play, five performances a week.
Ushers
Contact: Gail Pfeifer, 925-295-1401 There is a commitment of ushering at least once a month and a dress code of a white top/black bottom. There is an annual orientation session, usually in August. To sign up for the orientation, call Gail Pfeifer, 925-295-1401.
Seniors Club
(Arts, Recreation & Community Services Department) Contact: Hope Keung and Cathie Ramey, 925-943-5852
Areas of opportunities include, but are not limited to: Special Events, Transportation Program, Clerical/receptionist, Trip programs. Hours vary from program to program but are generally set up in morning and afternoon shifts (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 12:30-4 p.m.) All positions include training and are available on a permanent or substitute basis.
Sports Programs
(Arts, Recreation & Community Services Department) Contact: Wes Allnutt, 925-256-3539
After-School Sports Program: Coaches and scorekeepers Volunteer to work with campers Volunteers should have experience in sports and some experience working with children.
Summer Day Camp for Special Needs Children
(Arts, Recreation & Community Services Department) Contact: Preston Jones, 925-943-5800 ext. 531
Volunteers work with campers with special needs. The camp begins in late June and runs through the middle of August from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The time commitment is flexible and can be adapted to any time or day that meets the volunteer’s schedule. Volunteers should be at least 14.
Walnut Creek Historical Society (Shadelands Ranch Historical Museum)
The Walnut Creek Historical Society is currently seeking volunteers for several history-oriented projects as well as docents for its program of House Tours at the Shadelands Ranch Museum. Training is provided. Projects are matched to the interests and experience of the volunteer. Project volunteer opportunities range from an hour or two here and there to a weekly four hour stint. Docents are asked to work two three hour shifts monthly and to attend a Docent meeting. Please call 925-935-7871 to ask about volunteer opportunities.
